Is it really this hard to find?

[SJHester]

I think what i am looking for should be easy to find, but it's proveing quite difficult. I currently have a diffuser for my flash (vivitar DF-283) but i would really like to mount an umbrella to the camera body, point the flash backward into the umbrella and bounce the flash. The problem is the smallest umbrella i can find online is about 30 inches. That feels like a big umbrella to mount to the camera, and feels like it would get in the way.

Anyone know of a smaller umbrella or a better idea?

[Daniel W.]

At this point, it seems more feasible to use a "large" bounce card rather than a small umbrella. Make it circular if catch light shape is your game.

Some of my world famous technical drawings to illustrate my idea:

[camera shy]

Google On camera softboxes for some ideas

[SJHester]

Dan - I like the idea (option 1). prety easy to rubberband the pipe cleaners to the strobe, but how do you adhere the pipecleaners to the foam sheet?

Robin, I have an on camera softbox, it does the job, but actually want the bounced light and the round catch light look.

I also like Dan's second idea, but i suspect the bounce card would be as big an issue to deal with as the large umbrella. I really would love to see a 10 inch umbrella, there's got to be one somewhere.

[The Loft Studios]

They sell this one that is 24" as a whole kit with bracket and all on eBay.....

[Daniel W.]

@Steve, Tape, staples, whatever - both pipe cleaners and the foam are easily manipulated. If you wanted to get into the specifics, you could use a never-dull type polishing product on the head of the staples to add to the reflectivity.

Mark's link seems like a pretty good "kit" solution.

[SJHester]

thanks all

[Abel]

Steve, what kinda situation would you be shooting in? environment wise? Party, Wedding etc?

[KdLaneJr]

Originally Posted by SJHester

I think what i am looking for should be easy to find, but it's proveing quite difficult. I currently have a diffuser for my flash (vivitar DF-283) but i would really like to mount an umbrella to the camera body, point the flash backward into the umbrella and bounce the flash. The problem is the smallest umbrella i can find online is about 30 inches. That feels like a big umbrella to mount to the camera, and feels like it would get in the way.

Anyone know of a smaller umbrella or a better idea?

Smallest Umbrella I've seen designed for what you are asking.

In my opinion, it's still too big to use on a flash bracket. Alzo also has 15x15 softbox that they suggest can be used on a flash bracket (thier flash bracket).

I use the 15x15 off camera on a light stand. I think it would be very unwieldy on a flash bracket.

[KenJulio]

hmm...why not a lumiquest softbox?

Amazon.com:

[brewercm]

Ken,
I was thinking along the same lines. I have the whole Lumiquest Promax System card kit along with the cover that makes it basically a small softbox on your camera or off. It's this one on Amazon.
Amazon.com: Lumiquest Promax System: Electronics

[ualymerej]

This is really light weight and probably would work fine on a flash bracket, but i've only used it on a flash stand.

Speedlight Prokit 6 Reflector Medium

[SJHester]

Thank all, i do have a small softbox for the strobe, but even with it, the light tends to be harsh and really flattens the picture. It might be that the strobe is not the most powerful. typically i use this for shots of events at work or portraits of the family (doing my 1 month old grandson tomorrow).

thinking outloud, would just bouncing the light off the white ceiling be better than the softbox?

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

get a cable or wireless trigger and mount the flash off the camera which allows you a lot more leaway as to controlling the amount of light on your subject.

The foam sheets can be picked up for a buck or two at most hobby shops and even some $ stores and then you just cut the size of pieces that you want to work with.

BTW it is always worth while to have some gaffer or gorrilla tape in your kit which will stick a lot of things to other things.

Not sure if you say heated some foam core board to a certain temp if you couldn't mold shape it into a curved shape that will stay curved after it cools down and that the flashes heat wouldn't unset the shaping. If you can't then you could maybe use rubberbands to curve it a bit or you can slit the edges and bend them in to modify the light a bit but I bet if you just took the flash off of the camera and use your current equipment it would give you the results that you are seaking.